BNP senior leader Amir Khosru Mahmud Chowdhury on Monday warned that the country's ongoing crisis will worsen further without an elected government, urging all to unite for the restoration of democracy through a credible national election.
“Let us remain united in the coming days to restore democracy. We want to bring back a democratic order in Bangladesh through a fair election. The more it is disrupted and delayed, the more our crisis will deepen,” he said.
The BNP leader made the remarks while addressing the 30th founding anniversary celebration programme of the Dhaka Reporters’ Unity (DRU) on its premises.
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Khosru, a BNP standing committee member, said it is possible to restore democratic order and ensure the prosperity of Bangladesh through the efforts of all.
“The sooner we can reach this goal with the cooperation of the media and the united efforts of the people of Bangladesh, the more beneficial it will be for our country,” he said.
The BNP leader said the nation could oust the fascist and autocratic regime of Sheikh Hasina through united efforts. “We carried out a movement for 16 years and through this movement, we have gradually been able to unite.”
He said they waged the movement to bring back democracy to Bangladesh and to restore the democratic, political, and constitutional rights of the people by ensuring the fall of the despotic regime. “But we have not yet been able to reach that goal.”
“So, our unity will be for democracy — to restore democratic and constitutional rights, including freedom of the media. There is no alternative to this. No other reform can provide what democratic governance can,” the BNP leader said.
He said reforms will only work when there is a democratic order and a government that is accountable to the people.
Khosru said the media’s responsibility is to ensure that the government remains accountable to the people.
He said journalists should clearly understand that as long as democracy is not restored in Bangladesh, the media will not be able to perform its role properly.
“Democracy and media go hand in hand. The more democracy and democratic order are absent, and the more prolonged the absence of a democratically elected government, the more pressure will mount on the media," the BNP leader observed.
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Whoever is in power undemocratically, he said, will at some point put pressure on the media in various ways to cling to power.
The BNP leader said it is important for politicians to be more tolerant in order to establish media freedom. “The media must not be obstructed rather it should be allowed to function freely.”
He later inaugurated the DRU’s founding anniversary celebration programme by hoisting the national flag.